Question about hand planes & chisels; skew and bevel angle ranges

**Sean Rainaldi** · 12-07-2011, 3:40 PM

Hi,

I have always wondered about the full range of skew and bevel angles available for all hand plane blades (and chisles too for that matter).

Lie Nielsen skew angled flat blades come in only two sizes I believe with 18 and 20 degree skew angles, both of which I believe have a ground 25 degree bevel angle which if I understand correctly all of their flat blades are ground at 25 degrees bevel.

Are these skew angles and the 25 degree bevel angle pretty much an industry standard for plane makers? And for chisels? If not what other bevel and skew angles are common amongst other manufacturers (unless the list is the entire gamut between 0 to 45)...Or what would be the maximum skew and bevel angles for such?

**Jim Koepke** · 12-07-2011, 5:02 PM

25º is a common (standard) angle for American planes. For some of my bevel down planes I have used 30º. The angle needs to be less than the bedding angle for bevel down planes. After about a 35º bevel, the blade tends to skate over the surface without cutting.

For bevel up planes, less than 25º tends to cause the edge to wear or chip quickly.

As far as skew is concerned, I am not sure if there is a standard.

jtk

**Erik France** · 12-07-2011, 5:44 PM

I don't think there is a standard for the skew either.

The Veritas skew block plane from Lee Valley uses a 15 degree skew, but with similar bevels and bed angles.

Their skew rabbets use a 30 degree skew. http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...=1,41182,48945

The pair of skew chisels I have use a 35 degree skew.

**Sean Rainaldi** · 12-07-2011, 5:54 PM

Thanks for the info.

What do you think is about the widest hand plane blade and widest chisel out there?

**Erik France** · 12-07-2011, 6:07 PM

The biggest one I have, and use, is a Stanley #8. It has a 2 5/8" wide iron. There may be some older woodies, and other lower production planes out there.

I know there are even wider chisels, especially ones used in heavy timber framing and ship building.